Deerfield volleyball coach accused of texting teen to pressure her for sex

Michael Morales, 38, of Pompano Beach, was taken into custody on Monday… (Broward Sheriff's Office )

March 19, 2013|By Ihosvani Rodriguez, Sun Sentinel

The director of a popular volleyball academy in Deerfield Beach was arrested after investigators said he tried to pressure a 15-year-old girl into having sex with him through a series of text messages.

The girl called authorities, who took Michael Morales, 38, of Pompano Beach, into custody on Monday on one count of computer child exploitation.

Now, Broward County sheriff's investigators want to know whether there are any more victims, said agency spokeswoman Dani Moschella.

"Detectives are concerned that, because of his regular proximity to the teens he coaches, there might be other victims," she said.

Morales is the director of Matrix Volleyball Academy, according to the academy's website. The academy, which boasts 14 teams and offers indoor and beach volleyball training, bills itself as an "elite" training school with players ages 8 through adult.

Morales, who was freed from jail on $1,000 bond, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The texts between Morales and the teenager began innocently around June, dealing mostly with volleyball training, according to investigators. The messages then turned personal and of a sexual nature around October and continued through December, investigators said.

In one message, Morales allegedly wrote, "I almost made u do something to prove to me u were all in."

The girl replied, "Please don't make me do something like that. You said you were kidding. I'll straighten up I promise im just a nervous kid and I get scared and anxious."

At one point, the girl questioned her future at the volleyball academy.

"So if I don't do what you want sexually I can't train?" the girl wrote Morales. "Who else have you done this to?"

Morales allegedly replied, "That's private and u have to be in all the way."

Morales warned her to erase the messages, investigators said. Later, it was the girl warning the mentor.

"Separate the fact I'm 15 and this started bc of my fear of getting into college...When you ask me to do sexual things no. I'm scared. having me drop standards to go far is not something I can put trust in," the girl wrote.

On a different occasion, she wrote, "My consent isn't even legal you could get into a lot of trouble lets just stop."

BSO officials said at this point the girl contacted authorities. "There was a voice of reason coming from a 15-year-old, and he ignored her," Moschella said.

The academy's main training facility is near Powerline Road and Southwest 10th Street in Deerfield Beach. Assistant coaches and directors listed on the academy's website could not be reached for comment.

The group that leases the gym space to the academy, Indoor Sports Complex, is now trying to decide if it will allow the practices to continue at the facilty.

"We take this very seriously," said Rick Reyes, a managing partner of the facility. "We're not sure right now what is going to happen."

Authorities ask anyone who may have been a victim, or who has further information about Morales, to contact the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at 954-888-5242.